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Forecast rationality tests in the presence of instabilities, with applications to Federal Reserve and survey forecasts

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Abstract
This paper proposes a framework to implement regression-based tests of predictive ability in unstable environments, including, in particular, forecast unbiasedness and efficiency tests, commonly referred to as tests of forecast rationality. Our framework is general: it can be applied to model-based forecasts obtained either with recursive or rolling window estimation schemes, as well as to forecasts that are model-free. The proposed tests provide more evidence against forecast rationality than previously found in the Federal Reserve's Greenbook forecasts as well as survey-based private forecasts. It confirms, however, that the Federal Reserve has additional information about current and future states of the economy relative to market participants.

Suggested Citation

  • Barbara Rossi & Tatevik Sekhposyan, 2014. "Forecast rationality tests in the presence of instabilities, with applications to Federal Reserve and survey forecasts," Economics Working Papers 1426, Department of Economics and Business, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, revised Nov 2014.
    • Handle: RePEc:upf:upfgen:1426
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Forecasting; forecast rationality; regression-based tests of forecasting ability; Greenbook forecasts; survey forecasts; real-time data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C22 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Time-Series Models; Dynamic Quantile Regressions; Dynamic Treatment Effect Models; Diffusion Processes
    • C52 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Model Evaluation, Validation, and Selection
    • C53 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Forecasting and Prediction Models; Simulation Methods

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